Neuroscience Major

Common Neuroscience Core (10 courses)

1. First Tier
   • Introductory Biology (two semesters: BIOL043L KS  and BIOL044L KS , or BIOL040L KS  and BIOL044L KS , or BIOL042L KS  and BIOL044L KS , or equivalent)
   • Basic Principles of Chemistry (two semesters: CHEM014L KS  and CHEM015L KS , or CHEM040L KS  and CHEM015L KS , or CHEM042L KS , or equivalent)
   • Foundations of Neuroscience (NEUR095L JT  or approved substitute)
   • Neuroscience 1: Cell, Molecular: BIOL148L KS  
   • Neuroscience 2: Systems: BIOL149 KS  
2. Second Tier—Choose three courses from the following:
   • General Physics: two semesters of PHYS030L KS -PHYS031L KS   or PHYS033L KS - PHYS034L KS  or equivalent)
   • Mathematics: MATH031 SC  (calculus II), statistics (BIOL175 KS  or PSYC103 SC ), or approved equivalent course
   • Computer science: BIOL133L KS , PHYS100 KS , or approved equivalent course
   • Research Methods: PSYC104 SC  /PSYC104L SC  or approved equivalent course

Neuroscience Sequence (four courses)

A coherent grouping of four elective courses to be determined in consultation with an adviser in Neuroscience and approved by the Coordinator of the Intercollegiate Neuroscience Program. Areas in which a student may elect to specialize include, but are not limited to:

• Behavioral Neuroscience
• Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Computational Neuroscience
• Developmental Neuroscience
• Motor Control
• Philosophy of Neuroscience, or
• Social/Affective Neuroscience

Senior Thesis (one or two courses)

A one- or two-semester Senior Thesis on a topic related to the student’s selected Neuroscience Sequence. Students who choose the one-semester thesis option are required to take an additional course towards their neuroscience sequence.

• NEUR 188L KS - Senior Thesis Project in Neuroscience and
• NEUR 190L KS - Senior Thesis Research Project in Neuroscience, Second Semester

•  or

• NEUR 189L KS - Senior Thesis Summer Research Project in Neuroscience and NEUR190L KS Senior Thesis Research Project in Neuroscience, Second Semester , two-semester thesis;  

• or

• NEUR 191 KS - One-Semester Thesis in Neuroscience

Honors Requirements

To be considered for departmental honors in neuroscience, a student must:

• Achieve a minimum grade point average of 11.0 (A-) in courses in the major;
• Complete a one- or two-semester thesis project in which the student has demonstrated excellence by making a significant contribution to the progress of the research and by producing a thesis document judged to be of honors quality by the department;
• Present an oral progress report at the end of the first semester of a two-semester thesis and a poster at the conclusion of either a one- or two-semester thesis in which the student clearly explains the rationale for the project and the conclusions that were drawn, engages the listener, and knowledgeably answers questions; and
• Attend at least six scientific seminars during the semester (each semester for a two-semester thesis) and submit a brief and clear summary of each.